Wildcats blast Friona in first meeting of season, 67-16

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team coasted to a, 6716, victory over the Friona Chieftains on the road on Tuesday in their first meeting of district play.

With the win, The Wildcats improve to 13-10 overall, 5-0 in district play.

Stef Ally took a charge on Jeremiah Trevino to open the contest, but after a Friona turnover, Chip Green passed the ball to Q Busby, who gave it back to Green for a lay-up on the two-on-one break, to put the Wildcats in front, 2-0. With 5:55 to play in the opening quarter, Ryan Williams was fouled on a put-back attempt by Alvidrez. He converted both free throws to stretch their lead to, 4-0.

Trevino dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Ryan Williams and on their next possession, Ryan Williams hit Jeremiah Trevino, who was fouled on the shot attempt by Jose Alvidrez. He split the attempts at the free-throw line, pushing their lead to, 7-0. Jose Saucedo drove to the hoop for a lay-up on the left side to end the scoring drought for Friona, but on their next possession, he was called for a charge turning the ball over to Littlefield with just over three minutes to play in the first quarter.

Friona took a time out with 2:39 to play in the quarter to prevent a turnover and out of the break, MJ Randle picked up a steal and got it ahead to Omar Martinez, who finished off the fast-break with a layup, extending their lead to, 9-2. Ally took a charge on Zeke Saenz and the Chieftains capitalized on the turnover, as Brice Jeter dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Ally to trim the lead to, 9-4.

Saenz picked up a steal and was fouled on a fast-break attempt by Lopez. He converted both shots at the line to push their lead back out to, 11-4, with 1:11 remaining in the quarter. With time winding down in the quarter, Johnny Gonzalez knocked down a jumper from the right wing, but in the closing seconds of the quarter, Martinez picked up a steal in their own end and got it to Elijah Salazar for a lay-up, to make the score, 136, as the first quarter came to a close.

Trevino picked up a steal and got it ahead to Ryan Williams for a quick lay-up to open the second quarter and Salazar followed it up with a put-back off of his own miss to stretch their lead to, 17-6. Green dropped a dime to Trevino for a lay-up on the left side and Green followed it up with a put-back off of his own miss to make the score, 21-6, with 5:51 to play in the first half.

Littlefield scored a lay-up off of a steal in their own end and Ryan Williams followed it up with a drive and dump to Busby for a lay-up to make the score, 25-6. Busby drove the lane dishing a behind the head pass to Green for a lay-up and Trevino followed it up with a euro step to get into the paint for a layup, stretching the lead to, 29-6, with 3:24 remaining in the half.

Ally took a charge on Ja’Den Williams, but after regaining possession, Saenz dropped in a putback off of a miss by Martinez to make the score, 31-6. With under a minute to play, Gonzalez drove the lane for a lay-up, making the score, 31-8, going into the locker room at halftime.

Busby delivered a block on the defensive end before dishing the ball ahead to Green on the fastbreak for a lay-up to open the second half. Gonzalez knocked down a deep two from the left elbow for Friona, but on the other end, Ryan Williams was fouled on an attempt by Alvidrez. He made one-of-two shots at the line, making the score, 34-10, with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter.

Friona took a 30-second time out and out of the break, Saucedo drove to the basket for a lay-up on the left side, making the score, 34-12, with 3:43 remaining in the quarter. Ryan Williams answered with a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Gonzalez. He converted the free throw to make the score, 3712. Busby dropped in a floater from the left wing and Ja’Den Williams followed it up with a steal, passing it to Busby, who passed it back to Ja’Den Williams for the finish at the rim, pushing their lead to, 41-12.

With 1:21 remaining in the quarter, Martinez picked up a steal and got it ahead to Busby on the fastbreak for a lay-up, as he drew an and-one foul on Lopez. The free throw was no good leaving the score, 43-12. The Wildcats kept the run going, as Busby dished a nolook pass to Ja’Den Williams for a lay-up and Busby followed it up with a lay-up off of the inbound pass from Randle, stretching the lead to, 47-12.

Saucedo dropped in a lay-up off of a turnover by Randle, but Saenz closed out the third quarter with a lay-up, making the score, 49-14, heading into the final quarter of play.

Ryan Williams opened the fourth quarter with a lay-up off of an assist from Trevino, but Friona answered with a floater in the lane by Lopez. Littlefield took a 30-seconds time out with 6:29 remaining in the game, and out of the break, Trevino knocked down a jumper from the top of the key and followed it up with an outlet pass that was saved under the basket by Green, finding the hands of Ryan Williams for a lay-up, making the score, 55-16, with 4:52 remaining in the game.

Salazar knocked down a three from the top of the key off of an assist from Ryan Williams and on their next possession, Green was fouled on the floor by Brice Jeter with 3:08 left to play. Green converted both shots at the line, stretching their lead to, 60-16. Green picked up a steal and got it ahead to Randle, who dropped in a lay-up to finish off the play and make the score, 62-16. Randle kept the rally going with a three from the right elbow off of an assist from Green and Saenz followed it up with a put-back off of a miss by Green, drawing an and-one foul on Saucedo. He missed the free throw, leaving the score, 67-16, to close out the game for Littlefield.

Ryan Williams led the Wildcats in scoring with 12 points, while Green joined him in double-figures scoring with 10 points. Trevino and Salazar each chipped in nine points, while Busby and Saenz each contributed eight points.

Randle contributed five points, while Ja’Den Williams added four points and Martinez finished with two points.

The Wildcats closed out the first half of district play on Friday with a home game against the Lamesa Golden Tornadoes. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season next Friday when they open the second half of district play with a road game against Muleshoe.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.